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Uploading and retrieving images from SQL Server

Introduction

Some times we need to store binary data in database. SQL Server provides a special data type called image that can hold such binary data. The examples of binary data include images, documents etc. In this article we will see how we can store and retrieve images in SQL server database

Creating Tables

In order to work with the examples of this article you will need a table in some database. (You may chose to create it in existing database or create a enw database all together)
Following table explains structure of the table :

Column Name

Datatype

Purpose

ID

Integer

identity column Primary key

IMGTITLE

Varchar(50)

Stores some user friendly title to identity the image

IMGTYPE

Varchar(50)

Stores image content type. This will be same as recognized content types of ASP.NET

IMGDATA

Image

Stores actual image or binary data.

Storing images in SQL Server database

In order to store images to the table you will first upload them to your web server from the client browser. You can develop a web form that accepts image title via a TextBox web control and image file via HTML File Server Control. Make sure you set encType attribute of the Form to multipart/form-data.

In the above code we have opened a connection with our database. We then SELECT images via datareader. Since the image data is binary data we used Response.BinaryWrite instead of normal Response.Write.

I hope you must have found the article interesting.

Keep coding !

Bipin Joshi is a software consultant, trainer, author and spiritual yoga mentor having 23+ years of experience in software development. He teaches online training courses in ASP.NET Core, ASP.NET MVC, and Design Patterns to individuals and small groups. He is a published author and has authored or co-authored books for Apress and Wrox press. Having embraced the Yoga way of life he also teaches Ajapa Yoga to interested individuals. To know more about him click here.